With the Film.nl search engine you can see which films and series can be seen where in the Netherlands. This should ensure that people walk less illegal routes.
Film.nl is a website and app set up by the film industry. Think of it as a guide to the legal offer of series and films in the Netherlands. If you want to know on which service a certain film can be seen, this service will guide you there. We have already tried the app to see if it is something.
Film.nl as a film search engine
To be clear: Film.nl is not a film service. You cannot use the app to watch films and series on it. It’s a kind of Google that points you to the right place. Funnily enough, the app kind of pretends. For example, the first time you use the app, you need to enter your favorite movie genres to receive personalized suggestions.
As a user, you also indicate which results you want to see by ticking services, shops and channels. The most important streaming services are present: Cinetree, Filmthuis, iTunes, KPN On Demand, Netflix, Pathe Thuis, Videoland and Ziggo On Demand. If a film or series is not available on-demand, a reference is made to an online store that has it on DVD or Blu-ray. Bol.com, ECI and Media Markt have been selected for this. But there is also room in the app for the latest films. Indicate in which city you live and Film.nl will point you to the cinema where it is showing.
Not straight to the movies
So far it sounds fine. The idea behind the app is commendable, but unfortunately the implementation is not yet. The movie search service has a nice looking app and the search works fine, but the results are disappointing. Outbound links from services and cinemas where you can watch the film often do not lead directly to the correct page. In the case of Netflix, you end up on the main page of the website, not the page of the movie. If something is available on Bol.com, you will be taken to the homepage. The service will point you roughly in the right direction, but not to the destination.
With every movie and series you tap, you get information about the title and the actors who play it. Via this screen you can also view the trailer and add it to your watch list. There is also an assessment, although the app does not explain where that figure comes from.
Download Film.nl
There is still a lot of room for improvement in the Film.nl app. Thus, the results are not really accurate. A film like ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’ is not found in the app, while it is indeed available on Pathe Thuis. The same goes for Captain America: Civil War, which is now on Netflix. The question is whether Film.nl can keep up with the constantly changing supply of different on-demand services. Film.nl is a good initiative to combat illegal viewing by identifying the legal offer, but then the platform still has to take a few steps to be a really good guide.